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The brown and yellow bathroom upstairs in Mary & Duane’s 1948 Cape Cod house

Pam Kueber - Updated: August 19, 2020

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

Last week, we took a look inside the glamorous black-tiled 1948 master bathroom at Mary and Duane’s house, and now, let’s examine the upstairs bathroom. It, too, has an unusual color combination that we don’t see often in postwar bathrooms — brown wall tiles and yellow fixtures. And it, too, is in spectacular, high-quality, time-capsule shape, as if it had been built yesterday.

The house was in one family all these years, so some stories came with it. Word is, the upstairs in this little Cape Cod house was finished out by dad, a plumbing contractor, for a daughter in the family was either living at home while she went to school or had just started her first job after finishing school. Oops, I forget.

So, upstairs, there is a living area… a second, small kitchen… a bedroom, and various closets. 

Remember: In 1948, many folks — including where I live, in Massachusetts — had the “Cape Cod” style in their sites as their “dream home.” The Cape Cod style was broadly publicized — and popularized nationwide — by Massachusetts’ own and my favorite architect Royal Barry Wills. It’s a is classic Colonial look… it’s a charming livable style… and folks could “grow” into it by initially only completing the downstairs, then, when their family grew in size, finish the upstairs. More photos to come of the rest of the house (I’m milkin’ it), but you can bet: There’s knotty pine involved in this house, too! No pink bathrooms, though! These homeowners were fashion-forward, going against the (pink) grain! 

Now, all the lovely details:
 So there you go: A love letter to a little 1948 brown-and-yellow bathroom, right down to the original Crane shower rod escutcheon.  

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  1. Neil says

    I’m getting all “handsy” looking at that sink….because J’ADORE those globe knobs!! Looks like they’re meant to echo the shower rod escutcheons, too. Be still, mon coeur.
    After my ablutions in that bathroom, I’d need to sit on the throne and have a cigarette, from the (non-existent) relaxation unit.

  3. Michele DeGroat says

    Impressed with that Crane shower rod. It is amazing that this bathroom still stands as is since 1948. I love the faucet style too. I’ve tried to find sink legs like these but they are so hard to find. Usually ‘pitted” after all these years. Kohler makes a beautiful all brass sink leg but too expensive $$$.

  4. Mary says

    Just like Julie said…the grout! First thing I noticed after taking in the initial time capsule look was how can this grout look so good! Love this bath!

  7. Cindy says

    I had this same bathroom flooring in my 1940 Cape Cod. It was underneath another layer of flooring and we had to replace it all. We were able to save a big piece of it and I put it under the kitchen sink.

  9. kddomingue says

    Looking at the fourth photo…..am I The only one who sees a funny face? Eyes, the hot/cold knobs. Nose, the faucet. Mouth, the overflow drain. I can’t look at it without giggling!

      • kddomingue says

        Oh! Thank goodness! Someone else sees it! I was beginning to doubt my sanity, lol!

        What a terrific mood lifter to have in one’s home. I simply can’t imagine it not eliciting a giggle or a grin every time you looked at it!

  10. Amy Kramer says

    Thank you! I have a 1949 Ranch with a Brown/yellow combination. I think the brown tiles are the same… Thank you for sharing and appreciating!